L'Aurelle Johnson, PhD

Faculty Mentor

Dr. L’Aurelle A. Johnsonis an Assistant Professor in the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, at the University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy. She also holds an adjunct appointment in the division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research at the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. Dr. Johnson was a K12 scholar from 2007-2011 specializing in pediatric pharmacology. As a K12 scholar she earned a MS in Clinical Research in 2008. Currently, Dr. Johnson’s research program focuses on the effect of disease on drug metabolism and disposition in children which is characterized by three themes. The first theme focuses on the identification of human oxidative enzymes, conjugative enzymes, and drug transporters that are altered during childhood obesity. This work received national publicity in Parents Magazine (October 2011 issue) and was highlighted on WebMD. The second theme utilizes animal models of obesity to determine the mechanisms by which drug metabolism enzymes and transporters are altered in the presence of obesity. Her final research theme focuses on developing an in vitro system to predict in vivo drug CL in humans with disease. In addition to her research efforts, Dr. Johnson also engages in scholarly activity as an educator and mentor for the graduate and professional programs within the College of Pharmacy. She serves as course director for the graduate level drug metabolism and disposition course and for the graduate student professional development course. Dr. Johnson is a former MARC program scholar, and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and honors in chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana in 2000. In 2005, she received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan where she studied amphetamine’s regulation of the dopamine transporter. While at the University of Michigan, she was President of the Association of Multicultural Scientist from 2002-2003. Dr. L’Aurelle Johnson is a currently a member of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) and American College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP).

Mentor's Motivational Message

“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible."

Breaking the Ice - L'Aurelle's "Q&A"

What were your best/worst subjects in school and what subjects would you want to learn now?

My best subject in school was science. My worst subject was physics. I would love to learn Spanish.

Name the most famous person you've had a face-to-face encounter with ("brush with greatness".)

I had dinner with with Raven-Simone... I kept thinking to myself, "I know this person sitting across the table from me", but only after dinner I realized that I just had dinner with That's so Raven Raven-Simone!!!!!

What is your favorite weird food combination?

Fried bologna and egg sandwich with grape jelly.

What's your favorite sport?

College basketball... "Rock Chalk J-hawk Go KU!"

Listener or talker?

Listener.

What's your favorite line from any movie?

When it comes to movies I am a hopeless romantic. Because I have watch this movie recently, I would have to say my favorite line in this movie is "double or nothing". [Love & Basketball]

Which Scooby-Doo character are you most like (Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred, Velma, the monster, Scrappy?)

Scrappy.

Coffee or Tea?

Tea.

What was one of the most fun things you and your college roommate did together?

We went to Essence Music Festival and missed curfew!!!!!

What was your nickname growing up or now?

My nickname growing up was "Jolly Green Giant" because in the winter time I wore a huge green coat. Today my friends just abrbreviate my name to Relly, Relle or Relly Relle.